Book Review / The Reckoning by John Grisham

October 1946, Clanton, Mississippi

Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi's favorite son--a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, walked into the church, and calmly shot and killed his pastor and friend, the Reverend Dexter Bell. As if the murder weren't shocking enough, it was even more baffling that Pete's only statement about it--to the sheriff, to his lawyers, to the judge, to the jury, and to his family--was: "I have nothing to say." He was not afraid of death and was willing to take his motive to the grave.
In a major novel unlike anything he has written before, John Grisham takes us on an incredible journey, from the Jim Crow South to the jungles of the Philippines during World War II; from an insane asylum filled with secrets to the Clanton courtroom where Pete's defense attorney tries desperately to save him.
 

 

Published:     23rd October 2018
Publisher:  Doubleday
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned
 

 

MY REVIEW

 

I adore all of the novels written by John Grisham but there are a select few that are placed higher than most and this was one of them.  This was my first time reading The Reckoning so I had no idea what was going on.

In this story we see Pete Banning shoot his pastor without any remorse it seems.  Of course, there is more to this story than meets the eye  and I honestly was on the edge of my seat reading this until the very last page.  

What I loved the most about this story is not only do you follow Pete Banning in current day with the shooting and what happens but also you get to see his past and what led up to the moment that made him 'snap'.   

This is not a fast paced novel, so its not one of those that you can keep the pages turning and there's more and more action.  It is slow paced and you are watching as the action unfolds, both in present day and in the past.   Sometimes I can get caught up in action in a fast paced novel and can sometimes miss important parts of a novel that I would have picked up on if it was a slower pace.  Yes, this did take me longer to read but, for me, it was worth it!